Philippine Mythology • THE ASWANG PROJECT

Mythology and beliefs from the various cultures of the Philippines. Please use the menu or search function to search for a specific ethnolinguistic group or deity.

A nymph like woman, sitting with knees to chest, arms resting on top. She wears no clothing, her eyes are black like a shark, whiler her hair sticks up in a pixie cut.

Banwaanon, Denizens of the Philippine Fairyland

August 31, 2016 Karl Gaverza Creatures & Spirits, Eastern Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs

Banwaanon, meaning ‘of the forest’, are sometimes called Katsila from ‘Castilian’ (shortened to kastila) meaning Spaniard. They are said to have Caucasian features and coloring. The legend is

Illustration of a muscular man sized amphibious looking beast. It has no head and from shoulder to shoulder is a giant mouth with long sharp teeth.

PUGOT MAMU: The Other Philippine Boogeyman

August 30, 2016 Karl Gaverza Creatures & Spirits, Kapampangan Mythology & Beliefs

PUGOT MAMU Next to the aswang, the Pugot Mamu may be the most well-known Philippine boogeyman from the Pampanga region. It is a headless being, like

Mariang Sinukuan, the Diwata of Mt. Arayat in Pampanga

August 29, 2016 Karl Gaverza Kapampangan Mythology & Beliefs

Mariang Sinukuan is the diwata, or mountain goddess, associated with Mount Arayat in Pampanga, Philippines, and is a prominent example of the mountain-goddess motif in Philippine

A beautiful, and colorful illustration of a mermaid like being, with coral and sea fauna growing off of her.

Magindara, Guardian Sirena or Cannibal of the Sea?

August 28, 2016 Karl Gaverza Bikolano Mythology, Creatures & Spirits

Bikolano myths paint the Magindara in extremes; they are either said to be guardian deities of Bikolano fishermen, or “aswang ng dagat” who will eat

Illustration of a shark with very large side fins flying above the ocean.

TIBURONES: The Flying Sharks of Philippine Folklore

August 26, 2016 Karl Gaverza Bikolano Mythology, Creatures & Spirits

The Tiburones are said to be flying sharks, with razor sharp teeth, crushing jaws, and able to circle their prey from the air. ‘Tiburon’ is

Photo from the New York World Fair 1964/1965 on the Philippines.

VISAYAN Origin Myth: Creation of the Sun and Moon

July 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Central Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs, Visayan Mythologies & Beliefs, Western Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs

The Visayans are a Philippine ethnic group native to the whole Visayas, to the southernmost islands of Luzon and to most parts of Mindanao. They comprise

Image from "The Soul Book". Used with permission from GCF Books

NEGRITO Origin Myth: Creation of the World

July 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Philippine Mythology

The Negrito are several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia. Their current populations include Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, Semang peoples of

IGOROT Origin Myths: The Creation

July 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Bontok Beliefs, Cordilleran Beliefs

Igorot, or Cordillerans, is the collective name of several Austronesian ethnic groups in The Philippines, who inhabit the mountains of Luzon. “I shall mention chiefly

"The Quarrels of the Sun & Moon" from THE SOUL BOOK. Used with permission from GCF Books

MINDANAO Origin Myths: The Earth and its Inhabitants

July 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Manobo Beleifs, Mindanao Mythologies & Beliefs

“The interior of Mindanao is occupied by some ten tribes, the most ‘important’ being the Manóbos, Mandayas, Atás, Bagóbos, Biláns, Tirurais, and Subánuns. These tribes are

Ifugao Creation Image from "The Soul Book". Used with permission from GCF Books

IFUGAO Origin Myth: The First Man & Woman

July 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Cordilleran Beliefs, Ifugao Beliefs

The Ifugao call themselves as i-pugao or “inhabitants of the known earth”; other variations of the name are Ifugaw, Ipugao, and Yfugao. They live primarily